Staff Picks: Worst Cars of the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

After two days covering the latest production and concept car reveals at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show, we've compiled our list of worst cars on display. So what did we pick? Check out the Motor Trend staff’s picks for the worst cars of the show below and see our picks of the best cars HERE.

2014 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

Scott Burgess:
I keep waiting for Acura to turn around, and, I want it to turn around. This brand, more than many, has the potential to combine luxury, technology and performance. Instead, show after show, debut after debut, Acura manages to offer something "a little less ugly than before". It's not a design ethos I think works for any carmaker. The RLX Sport Hybrid may have some interesting features such as three electric motors and a sum total of 377 horsepower. But its slab sided milquetoast exterior will make any owner want to keep it parked in the garage, so as to never have to gaze upon it and run the risk for dying of boredom.

Fuel Cell vehicles

Mike Floyd:
I can fully appreciate how much work and effort continues to go into fuel cell vehicles, but I also continue to question why we need to see what amounts to continued science experiments being breathlessly rolled out at auto shows as if they’ll be in showrooms next year. At least the Honda FCEV was, um, interesting to look at. Again, kudos to all the development work and the effort put in here, especially Honda, who with the FCX Clarity demonstrated that a series production fuel cell is possible. And I am a firm believer in hydrogen as a potential answer to future propulsion without resulting emissions. But can we please stop rolling them out at auto shows until they’re viable? That said, don’t stop chasing those hydrogen earth dreams.

2014 Hyundai Veloster R-Spec

Chris Clonts:
It seems like a nice gesture: Take the turbo version of the quirky, asymmetrical Veloster, and with one hand enhance its handling and looks to get it closer to hot-hatch status than the standard Veloster or Veloster Turbo. But there are two problems here. First is that with the other hand, Hyundai deleted other, desirable features of the Veloster, like auto-up windows, electroluminescent gauges and push-button start, in an effort to drop the price by $1000 versus the regular Veloster Turbo. The second problem: Even with the turbo engine, the Veloster is a tepid performer. So even more than the original, the Veloster R-Spec's appearance outstrips its performance.

Youabian Puma

Christian Seabaugh:
While I was leaning toward picking the unimpressive 2014 Hyundai Elantra or the new Maxi Cooper, the Youabian Puma is hands down my pick for worst in show. Go ahead and look at it, and tell me I’m wrong.Allyson Harwood:
It is a Murano CrossCabriolet on steroids and it's goofy-looking. I think if the Youabian Puma were a dune buggy or offered genuine off-road capability I might be on board, but it's neither here nor there.

Ed Loh: I'll side with Allyson and Christian and say there is no question the Youabian Puma is the absolute worst of the L.A. show. That it stands so far apart from the rest of the sheetmetal here says two things: 1) That the quality of the L.A. show is really high; there really isn't another dog here. 2) Somebody at Youabian needs to have their head and eyes checked.

2015 Subaru WRX

Jonny Lieberman:
Subaru WRX. SO UGLY!! Now before you start screaming, I've purchased two WRXs so I get a little leeway. But how on earth can any designer look at this anonymous wallflower with a hood scoop and think, "My work here is done!"? The whole "OMG! CVT!" is a smoke screen/false flag to detract from what's really going on — No hatchback/wagon body style, the world's most garish wheels and the bait-and-switch from the attractive baby-Jaguar looks of the NYC show car to this nothing of a production car. All that said, Subaru has a long tradition of each new WRX being uglier than the one that came before it. Moreover, the worse-looking they get, they better they drive. Here's to what would have been my next car, had they bothered to build a wagon!

2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Karla Sanchez:
I'm looking at something new here? The Toyota Highlander Hybrid underwhelmed; while photographers were seen crowding several other cars at the show, the Highlander Hybrid wasn't so popular as it sat alone most of the time.

2015 Subaru Legacy Concept

Erick Ayapana:
Let's be honest. The production version will likely not look anything like the concept, which is already staid to begin with.

2014 Mini Cooper

Alex Nishimoto:
Mini increased the dimensions of the new Cooper, and you can really tell once you see the car in person. The term "Mini" still applies, but it's now a less accurate descriptor of the Cooper. I was also let down by the interior, as the quirky styling and form-before-function ergonomics remain, and in general not a lot has changed from the last generation.

2014 Hyundai Elantra Sport

Jason Udy: While there were no truly terrible cars this year, the 2014 Hyundai Elantra Sport and 2014 Hyundai Veloster R-Spec underwhelmed. The Elantra Sport’s new 173-hp 2.0-liter I-4 only matches the existing Kia Forte EX sedan’s power and falls short of the 184-hp 2014 Mazda3 2.5 and the 201-hp Honda Civic Si. With few performance updates, the Veloster R-Spec fails to live up to its new badge. Then there is the blue exterior with bright red rocker panel trim that clashes with dark red/maroon leather seats.Check out our comprehensive coverage on the 2013 Los Angeles auto show here and read about our best-of-show picks HERE.

Not only is Youabian is a complete monstrosity, it also costs $1.1 million. That practically guarantees that the car will be owned by the few who earn their living all too easily, and who will be very eager to let others know that they have absolutely no taste in automotive design.

If the new Legacy is "staid," the world has really changed in the last week or two. I think it looks amazing, especially compared with the wort wearing the Legacy badge the past few years. The version previous to that was almost handsome, and then they lost it. This new one brings fresh hope.

But then I look at the WRX and I understand where the designer's hearts really lie.

Jonny Lieberman you hypo-twit! Saying the WRX is the worst because it's ugly. Are you not the same so-called Jonny Lieberman whom wrote an article about how a Subaru has to be ugly otherwise it has no charm and therefore no point. I also believe you scolded the NYC concept because it was good looking, and I completely agreed with that guy. Clearly there were worse cars at LA for instance the new (jumbo) Mini and that hideous Puma whatever the crap it is. However I'm very remiss that the hatchback is dead, I understand why with the development costs and everything but, still.

While the Puma wins worst car of the show hands down, the WRX is the most disappointing for me. Maybe if Subaru hadn't shown us the concept I wouldn't be as disappointed. Power and weight are virtually identical to the outgoing model and gas mileage isn't much different (the same for the cvt). To top it off, it is as ugly as mine. I had been waiting for a long time for this unveil. Perhaps it drives wonderfully, then all of these issues will be forgotten (by me at least).

I thought the whole point of autoshows were to display the latest advancements in technology and design... yet Motortrend puts the Honda FCEV vehicle on this list. ...If I were a child, I'd be all over this car asking tons of questions. It's a standout. And even as an adult, I'd still be asking questions.

I feel sad that the Puma is so expensive, I would rather like to see one driving around. Maybe I will just have to put an LS1 in a Volvo and figure out how to get 44" tires under it; like someone said by strapping plastic kayaks on the side of it should work.

@ALF- Gordon Shumway Push start is for the same people that need a voice to tell them where to go, too lazy to turn their head so they demand blind spot detection, same that need parking assist, etc. I'm surprised they don't have auto butt-whipping feature yet.

@btc909 you got the part right about the highlander hybrid as the cost went up, but the you got it wrong about pathfinder as it system only cost $3k more than the regular, while the highlander is $7k or more depends on model.

@faire how did they did that? subaru operate on their own by parent fuji heavy metals, and they are the majority share holder,they do not use toyota technology, and as odd as it seems they are more closer to nissan than toyota, as the same 4 speed auto was made by both subaru and nissan, the CVT that is use in subaru is produce at a one of the jatco plant in japan own by subaru and nissan, that is where the 4sp auto was made. if you should read further you would realize subaru bring nissan into the CVT world in 1990, and they studied it together, the same transmission was use in the nissan march.

As you should examine closer in the LA auto show the same CVT in the WRX with eight set gear changing is the same going to be use in the juke nismo rs.